Blakely Trail

The Blakely Trail is a moderate hike that traverses the Vincent Blakely Forest Preserve core forest. This east-west trail is a 2-mile out-and-back hike that connects three other land preserves to the east and seven miles of hiking trails spanning north-east Litchfield.

Description

The Blakely Trail is moderately difficult with some modest elevation gain. From the Fern Avenue trailhead, it is a short walk on a gravel road before turning left onto an old, abandoned logging road along the preserve western border. This makes for particularly easy walking early on. The property connects other existing protected forested lands to form a block of nearly 1,000 acres of protected land. This forms a critical cluster of protected forest that is sequestering and storing carbon and protecting the water quality of Spruce Brook and the expanded watershed. This valuable core forest land supports a diversity of flora and fauna. It is an excellent example of a healthy New England mixed hardwood forest.

The Blakely hiking trail travels one mile from the trailhead on Fern Avenue to the connection with Morris Land Trust's Adam-Purves Parcel. Hikers can extend the trip through this protected land to Clark Road and continue on across Clark Road to the Stillman-Danaher Preserve trails. The Stillman-Danaher Preserve trails lead to Perkins Road and then to Wheeler Road. Walking north on Wheeler Road leads to the Leiberman Preserve and loop trail. Together these connected trail systems allow for more than 7 miles of hiking trails.

Other Information

History

This land is protected by the Litchfield Land Trust because of generous land donations and grants.

In 1990, 18.4 acres were donated by Beverly Perbeck, Ross Marchetti, Thomas Barbero, and Eugene Barbero.
In 1997, 9.9 acres were donated by Ashbel Gulliver.
In 1998, 31.8 acres were donated by Harriet Marrin.
In 1999, 3.3 acres were donated by Cobblestone Development.
In 2024, 105 acres were purchased with grants from; DEEP Open Space and Watershed Acquisition (OSWA), US Fish and Wildlife Service (Highlands), Connecticut Land Conservation Council, and Seherr-Thoss Foundation.

Rules

Stay on designated trails.
No motorized vehicles.
No fires, swimming, hunting, or trapping.
Wear orange during hunting season.
Help keep our preserve beautiful - no littering.

Trail Manager

Litchfield Land Trust
P.O. Box 712
Litchfield, CT 06759
860-361-9310

info@litchfieldlandtrust.org

View website

Trail Tips

Leave What You Find

Respect natural resources, cultural and historic items, and wildlife by looking rather than touching.

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Trailhead Information

From Route 202

Turn southeast onto Fern Avenue. The trailhead is located a quarter mile down Fern Avenue from Route 202. The street address is 206 Fern Avenue, Litchfield, CT.

From Route 6

Take Route 6 to South Main Street in Thomaston. Turn northwest onto Northfield Road/CT-254 North. Follow for 7.3 miles. Turn left onto CT-118 West and then right onto Fern Avenue. In 1.5 miles, the trailhead is on the right. Park along the road.

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